Adolfo Valencia

Adolfo José Valencia Mosquera (born 6 February 1968) is a Colombian retired footballer who played as a striker.

Nicknamed El tren (train) due to his powerful physique, he played in seven countries – having one-year spells in Germany and Spain's top flight – and represented Colombia at two World Cups.

Club career Born in Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca, Valencia started playing with Independiente Santa Fe, where his stellar performances earned him a transfer to Germany's FC Bayern Munich. In his sole season (although he still played the first game of 1994–95), he was instrumental in helping the Bavarians clinch the Bundesliga title, and finished as the team's top scorer alongside Mehmet Scholl, with 11 goals.

Valencia also played one season in Spain, with Atlético Madrid, where he was involved in a serious incident with irascible club president Jesús Gil, while vastly underperforming overall: after a La Liga match at CD Logroñés, the latter said that "The black guy needs to have his throat cut". He subsequently went on to represent, without settling at any club, Independiente Santa Fe, América de Cali, A.C. Reggiana 1919, Independiente Medellín, PAOK FC, NY/NJ MetroStars, Zhejiang Lucheng F.C. and Unión Atlético Maracaibo.

While at Zhejiang, Valencia led the Chinese second division in scoring during the 2003 season. In his debut campaign in the Major League Soccer, he set a team record by scoring 16 league goals, and retired from football in 2004.

International career Valencia made his debut for Colombia on 31 July 1992, scoring the only goal in a match against the United States at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the Friendship Cup, and proceeded to represent the nation at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cups. In the former edition he netted twice, in group stage defeats to Romania and the United States.

Alongside Bernardo Redín, Valencia was Colombia's all-time topscorer in the World Cup. On 5 September 1993, he was one of three players on target in a 5–0 win in Argentina for the 1994 World Cup qualifiers.

International goals Scores and results list Colombia's goal tally first. Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Final Competition 1. 31 July 1992 Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, United States Amistad Cup 2. 31 March 1993 Atanasio Girardot, Medellín, Colombia 4–1 Friendly 3. 4. 8 May 1993 Orange Bowl, Miami, United States 5. 16 June 1993 9 de Mayo, Machala, Ecuador 1993 Copa América 6. 3 July 1993 Reales Tamarindos, Portoviejo, Ecuador 7. 15 August 1993 Metropolitano Roberto Melendez, Barranquilla, Colombia 1994 World Cup qualification 8. 5 September 1993 Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti, Buenos Aires, Argentina 9. 3 June 1994 Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, United States Friendly 10. 18 June 1994 Rose Bowl, Pasadena, United States 1994 FIFA World Cup 11. 22 June 1994 Rose Bowl, Pasadena, United States 12. 21 March 1996 Guillermo Plazas Alcid, Neiva, Colombia Friendly 13. 28 March 1996 Atanasio Girardot, Medellín, Colombia 4–1 14.

Personal life Valencia's son, José Adolfo, was also a footballer and a striker. He played mostly for Independiente Santa Fe, and represented Colombia at under-20 level.

Honours Club Bayern Munich Bundesliga: 1993–94

América Cali Categoría Primera A: 1997

Maracaibo Venezuelan Primera División: 2003

Individual

MLS All-Star: 2000